If your parcel come from outside the European Union: it must undergo an import process and this can lead to delays in delivery. If your parcel comes from inside the European Union: there is no default import process. If it wants to, customs can check shipments from inside the European Union. The duration of the import process depends on the following two factors: The value of your parcel, and whether your parcel has the necessary information to perform clearance. In this phase of the import process, the customs fees, VAT and any other fees (like anti-dumping duties and environmental duties) are calculated. Whether customs or other official authorities have to check your parcel. That is the case for medicine, plants and food, weapons, suspected counterfeit goods, etc. Estimated handling period for clearance * Up to €45 if it concerns a non-commercial parcel from private citizen to private citizen. Alcoholic products, perfumes and tobacco products are not exempt of fees for customs formalities. Additional handling period for certain products   * is investigated by customs and trademark owner ** after receipt of the necessary licences

According to customs and VAT legislation, you pay a certain amount in taxes (customs fees, VAT and duties) for parcels originating from outside the EU. These fees differ depending on the type of imported goods. Extra administration fees are also charged for the following customs formalities: 0 euro for commercial shipments with a value of maximum 22 euros and for private shipments with a value of maximum 45 euros. (Note: alcoholic products, perfume and tobacco products are not exempt of fees for customs formalities) 24 euros for customs formalities for non-exempt shipments with a value of up to 150 euros. 32 euros for customs formalities for non-exempt shipments with a value above 150 euros. 45 euros for phytosanitary checks of plants and plant products. 85 euros for a regularisation dossier These fees must be paid to bpost in cash or with an app. If you don't want to pay the customs fees, your shipment will be returned or destroyed.

If the parcel is lacking some information, you will be notified by bpost within two days. In that case, the handling period is extended until you send the additional information. If you do not answer this request for additional information, we will return your parcel to the sender after 30 days. Customs duties, VAT and any other fees (like anti-dumping duties and environmental duties) are calculated during clearance. The recipient must pay these upon delivery.

You can follow your parcel outside Belgium with Track & Trace. bpost relies on its international partners for the Track & Trace information. They are not always able to communicate this information (on time) so you might not be able to follow your parcel immediately. Once your parcel arrives in Belgium at bpost, you can follow it with our Track & Trace and the My bpost app. Tip: You can also follow your parcel with the Track & Trace of the foreign postal service handling your parcel. Use the barcode number that you received from the sender and enter it in the Track & Trace of the foreign postal service.

For home delivery, you can pay the customs fees to the postman with the Payconiq by Bancontact app or one of the following banking apps that offers the Payconiq by Bancontact functionality: KBC, BNP Parisbas Fortis, Belfius, ING, Argenta, AXA bank, ABK bank, Bank Van Breda, Beobank, CBC banque, CPH banque, Crelan, Deutsche Bank, Fintro, Hello Bank Keytrade, Nagelmackers, VDK spaarbank. You can also pay the exact amount in cash to the postman. In a Pick-Up Point, you can pay the customs fees in cash or with a debit or credit card.

If your parcel comes from outside the European Union, it passes through customs by default. Customs is also authorised to check all shipments from inside the European Union. That usually involves suspect shipments from EU member states and shipments with excisable goods inside the European Community.

The ‘fees for customs formalities’ is an administrative fee that is charged for: determining the contents and value of the parcel if necessary, contacting the addressee when the contents, value and details of the parcel do not correspond or are incomplete drawing up the required customs declaration storage and custody fees for collecting and passing on the customs duties

When a shipment from outside the European Union arrives in Belgium, the parcel is given to customs. The process is as follows: Security check Customs performs a security check on all goods arriving in Belgium from outside the European Union. Customs checks whether the goods can be imported to Belgium. If not (e.g. counterfeit goods, weapons or medicine), customs blocks your parcel. Clearance of the parcel Customs duties, VAT and any other fees (like anti-dumping duties and environmental duties) are calculated during clearance. The recipient must pay these upon delivery. Delivery of the parcel As soon as customs releases the goods, bpost takes care of the delivery. Any customs fees must be paid to bpost. There are 2 ways to do this: The exact amount in cash With the Payconiq by Bancontact app or a banking app that supports Payconiq by Bancontact Take into account that the entire process can take a few days. You can follow the status of your shipment with Track & Trace. You will be notified if you must fulfil more formalities or must pay fees upon delivery.

In this case, your parcel comes from outside the EU, even if it was ordered from a European webshop. Some webshops send their products directly from the country of origin. If that country is outside the EU, you might be charged customs fees. Always check the sender address of your parcel when ordering items online.